Morning journal and courier., 1887-03-18
ST. PArRIoK,sDA

Knights of st. Patrick, the Friendly |
 Sons and other Events of the Day.
 Rev. E. P. De Cantillon of Louisville, | Kentucky, an able representative of the or der of St. Dominick, lectured last evening to | a large audience in St. Mary's church upon ''The Life and Work of St. Patrick" Said the speaker: St. Patrick lived during the first half of the fifth century. He was born at Bormarven, then in the province of Brit ain. The experience of great trials brought him to the knowledge of Christianity. We may follow him through his life as shep- herd after having been sold to chieftain by pirates, his return to his people, second captivity in Gaul and then to his planting of the Christian church in Ireland, be appoint ed missionary there in 432. He established | three hundred altars in three hundred churches. Three thousand priests had the honor of receiving the sacred unction at his | hands. It is one thing to convert nation | and another to organize living churches. The nation was under body of Episcopal rulers. | The clergy took the place of the Druids in national councils. What man and what people was therel Truly, oh Ireland, thou didst not forget God in thy prosperity, and he did not abandon thee in thine diversity. | St. Patrick set captives free; he planted the \ seed and fostered it, and it has brought | forth hundred and thousand fold. The | winter of desolation passed, the sunshine 1 comes, and then again the clouds gather, | but the eyes of the dying saint | gladden. with smile, for he knows that Ireland will rise | again more glorious than before, for her hope | is in him who once burst the bonds of death. l Oh, glorious St. Patrick she is not ungrate- l ful; she could not forget thy teachings and | God. When a free nation she enlightened l and evangelical the world. All, even En- gland, sought her schools. Wherever the | Irish race have scattered there they have carried St. Patrick! Ireland's love for St. Patrick and for the Pope has kept alive the | spirit of nationality. It is the most intensely Catholic of any nation under the sun. The grandest achievements are under the Catho- l lie name not to disparage other men who have done great things for their country. All honor to such men Within the last century a special providence has brought Irishmen into one bond of union for common cause. The sentiment and nationality of Ireland were there already. She does not need persecution to keep her Catholic. No sooner had Ireland become acquainted with the Catholic church than she recognized it as her dearest friend. St. Patrick was thirty years ill preparing for his mission. He learned wisdom at the feet of Christ before he put forth his influence. The | Irish people must prove themselves children of so great a father by walking in his foot
  with the blood of martyrs. Rome itself has not such a record. Thousands have suffered l there because they would not deny their | faith.
 The blood that courses through the veins of tine Irish people is the oldest and most pure; it has spread warmth throughout Europe; it has always responded to freedom; it helped to make this country free. The religion we profess is the pure, unadulterated l doctrine of Jesus Christ and the apostles l There is no reason for being ashamed of 1t, | for it has stood by us in the hours of conflict | and sorrow. The surest guarantee of Irish | freedom is fidelity to St. Patrick. Ireland IS l destined to live forever. She will be the power and the regenerator. Chrlsts church is built upon a rock, and will stay till the end of time And while Ireland makes part of the church it will survive all vicissi- tudes of time and tide. The Knights of St. Patrick Banquet DefbeHs the Scene of Joy and Song. Forty-fve members of the joval Knights of St. Patrick celebrated the anniversary of the patron saint of ''Old Erin" last evening in manner that would do honor to any saint. From to 1 the spacious dining rooms of Caterer Deibel was the scene of mirth and songs, and festivity ran high. And yet there was shade of sadness at the loss during the year past of two of their oldest and most honored members, Bernard Reilly
 
 ever kept green in the hearts of their brother Knights Among the few absenteeisms of the evening particularly noticeable was that of Brother Michael Dillon, who not only is a host in himself as an en- happy faculty of bringing out the jovial and I enjoyable points in others. In this respect l he never failed to touch the jovial and youth l ful chord that was ever respondent in Broth 1 CT ''Uncle" Michael Healeys sunny nature. | The mere announcement by the toast-master i of either of these gentlemen. for their spe- | cialty in music and song was always at past 1 bouquets the signal for roars of side-splitting | laughter. The lightness of foot and the | ninbleness of body without any apparent fla tigue was truly remarkable in 8 man of | Brother Healey's age. It generally gave him great pleasure to vanquish his brother mem Der, Mr. Dillon, which he invariably did | amidst loud and prolonged applause from their brother Knights.
 The many toasts of the evening were well given and were received with uproarious ap- plause. The address by the president was exceedingly good which, after paying trlb- ute to the loss their organization has suffered during the past year, turned to more light some view and prepared the way pleasantly for those who were to follow after him. Thus in midst of song and mirth ended the tenth banquet in honor of their patron saint. The r. toast to the "Press'' by MT. J. J. SpIain was unavoidably omitted on account of Mir. Splain's inability to attend on account of sickness The toasts were as follows:
 Address by our President ....... Frank E. Craig
 Though old it is stiIl the one day dear to
 our hearts, From her ocean washed shores liberty
 lights the universe
 N "our patriotic star in the union constel-
 ine "under f5iH the Spreading elms we have grown.
 strong, proud and patriotic ;"
 eThe silver lining of the dark clouds hang
 The Knights 6f sa fs fast % cp
 ''steadfast in our duty to our native land.
 Firm in friendship to her
 chosen leaders,
 The to our hearts May heg euer ioa ,r their eIg loving sway OCT us" ~ o,c,nno The Nea!fR asTssor of our
 ! ne The buiwark of our liberties" ' 'p'A'n
 The menu by Deible was luxurious and abundant. MT. Lynch oficiated very hap oily as toastmaster. Town Agent Reynolds address on Ireland was marked by pathosi and feeling, and the dawn of better days for old Erin, of which he spoke, evoked much hearty applause. Mr. Driscoll spoke we'll for the City of Films. The address was one of his best efforts. It was far after the mid night hour before the festivities ended.
 The officers of the Knights Frank B. Craig, president; William M. Geary, vice president; Frank w. Tiernan, recording sec setarv; James J. Kennedy financial secretary; 1 Patrick Creegan, treasurer, and the commit l tee of arrangements, William T. Bradley, | William M. Geary, NJ. F. Walker.
 THE FRIENDLY SONS. Festivities Enjoyed by This Popular Organization i'm Honor of St. Patrick. The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, an or ganization whose members are all lovers and admirers of the ''Isle of Green' celebrated the day with a capital programme. The | pleasant weather of last evening was vastly | agreeable to all loyal Irishmen, and this popular organization engaged in festivities | as soon as the mantle of night had fallen and l they were kept up until early hour this 1 Mirih music. toasta and song